Method of Cooking Utilizing a Splatter Shield

Abstract

A method of cooking utilizes a splatter shield to control grease splatter from food being cooked within a cooking vessel. The splatter shield includes a generally annular sidewall that slopes upwardly and radially inwardly from a lower rim to an upper rim. The upper rim of the splatter shield defines an upper opening in the splatter shield that is sufficiently large to permit the introduction of a cooking utensil therethrough, and the lower rim defines a lower opening in the splash shield. The upper opening in the splatter shield is smaller than the lower opening.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of frying or cooking foods that release splattering grease droplets, comprising:
 providing a splatter shield comprising an upper rim, lower rim, and an inwardly sloping sidewall extending contiguously between the upper and lower rim, said upper and lower rim defining an upper surface, a lower surface, and a side surface of said shield, the upper surface defining an upper opening that is sufficiently large to permit entry of cooking utensils therethrough, admit the use of cooking utensils to manipulate the food within the cooking vessel positioned beneath the splatter shield while the food is cooking, allow substantially all the steam to escape from the cooking vessel, and allow the removal of the food from the cooking vessel through the upper opening, all without removing the shield from the cooking vessel;   placing said splatter shield atop a cooking vessel such that the lower rim of the splatter shield is contiguous with and covers an open upper surface of said cooking vessel,   heating said cooking vessel;   placing one or more food items to be cooked into the cooking vessel by inserting them through the upper opening of said splatter shield;   allowing the one or more food items to cook within the cooking vessel; and   turning, stirring, or otherwise manipulating the one or more food items as they cook by inserting a utensil through the open upper surface of the splatter shield.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising removing the one or more food items from the cooking vessel through the upper opening of the splatter shield. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the food items are removed from the cooking vessel through the upper opening without removing the splatter shield from the cooking vessel. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the sidewall of the splatter shield is comprised of fine metal mesh. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the sidewall of the splatter shield is comprised of fine stainless steel mesh. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the sidewall of the splatter shield is comprised of heat resistant plastic. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the sidewall of the splatter shield is comprised of heat resistant silicone. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the splatter shield comprises a handle connected thereto. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the spatter shield further comprises a wire framework supporting the mesh of the sidewall. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the splatter shield further comprises a support rim extending radially outwardly from the lower rim.